Christmas ghost story: Frozen in Fear

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Published:06:20Saturday 19 December 2015

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Once again we’ve been inundated with entries for our Christmas ghost story competition. In the run-up to Christmas Day we’re publishing the winners and runners-up in the 15-and-under and 16-and-over categories. Today we feature the runner-up in the 15-and-under category, Frozen in Fear, by Niall Dorrington, 11

Storms scare me, even daytime ones. The barn shook with every thunder clap. Joe tried to help by stroking me with his hairy legs. He’s very kind for a spider. Then the door opened. ‘People!’ I whispered. I don’t like strangers but I had to be brave, I had to ask for help.

Frozen in Fear is the first of our Christmas ghost stories to be published. Niall Dorrington was runner-up in a 15-and-under category

There were three of them, looking for shelter. A small one at the front, a girl about my age. Praying they could see me, I ran towards them and then I heard;

‘What the ... a ghost, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!’

I was running too fast to stop and went straight through the girl which is always unpleasant. I watched them flee. ‘Come back,’ I called, ‘Please help.’

A few days later, I was surprised to hear a voice echo round the barn. ‘Is anybody there?’

Author Niall Dorrington

It was the girl. I didn’t want to frighten her again so I emerged slowly from the gloom. She could see me! She smiled in wonder. ‘So you were real.’ Then, she froze staring in terror at Joe who was dangling above my head.

‘That’s just Joe,’ I said. ‘He’s very friendly.’

She shuddered, ‘It’s silly but I’m scared of spiders.’

‘I used to be scared of everything; spiders, storms, the dark, ghosts....’

She laughed. ‘I’ve always wanted to meet a ghost. I heard you asking for help so... I came back. I’m Phoenix by the way.’

She held out her hand, I tried to shake it but mine passed right through.

‘Charles Hanworthy’ I replied.

‘So, how come you’re a ghost?’

What could I say? Truth is I don’t know. I remember having a mother, father and little sister and going to school and being scared of the masters but that’s all. I can’t remember dying, I just hate being stuck here not knowing why.

‘You’re here for a reason,’ said Phoenix. ‘In ghost stories, there’s always a reason. Perhaps you were murdered and want revenge.’

I shook my head, I didn’t feel vengeful.

‘Maybe your bodily remains have been disturbed’

It was embarrassing discussing my remains with a girl. I’d have blushed if I’d had any blood.

Phoenix went on, ‘We need to work out why you’re here before you can move on.’

‘Move on where?’ I asked

‘Wherever ghosts go when they stop being ghosts.’

I must have looked scared because she added ‘ You move on to wherever your family is.’ That sounded nice.

‘I’ll help,’ she grinned, ‘I’ll search online for you, might take some time - the connection’s slow round here.’

And with that she left, leaving me wondering why she needed to search on the railway line or catch a slow connecting train.

The next day, Phoenix burst in shouting. ‘Guess what? I found you! You lived on a farm but this barn is all that’s left. You died in 1905. What happened was ...’ she stopped. The door was opening. She ducked out of sight.

Six older boys and girls staggered inside, smoking and swigging from bottles. Phoenix groaned and moved quietly to back of the barn. I followed.

‘Sixth formers from my school. They’re vile.’ she whispered.

‘This place is haunted!’ one of the boys shouted.

‘That’s just old stories,’ drawled a girl.

‘Know that stuck-up family that’s just moved in?’ Phoenix winced. ‘Apparently they saw something weird here last week.’

A boy lunged at a girl making her shriek. Soon they were all chasing each other. They didn’t notice the overturned bottle leaking on to the hay or the dropped cigarette until WHOOSH, a burst of flame shot up.

The biggest boy thrashed the fire with his coat. When it caught alight, he threw it down setting fire to more straw. A girl threw the contents of her bottle at the flames but that made things worse. It was mayhem. They swore, then ran.

‘Let’s get out of here Phoenix,’ I turned but she was frozen in fear. ‘Come on!’ I screamed but still she wouldn’t move and then – then I remembered everything.

I’d gone to bed but been too scared to blow out my candle. It must have fallen because when I woke, my room was on fire. Terrified, I ran into the garden. I knew I should raise the alarm but I froze. I watched the flames move from my room to my sister’s. Hester! Suddenly I was back inside, calling for my parents, racing to my sister. I pulled Hester from her bed, pushed her towards the door then something fell from the ceiling and everything went black.

The barn fire was spreading fast. Phoenix was still just standing there. I grabbed her, expecting to feel nothing but found I had a solid hold on her arm. Somehow, I picked her up and carried her through the flames.

Once outside, she came to, coughing and gasping.

‘I remember!’ I shouted, ‘There was a fire. It was my fault. I ran away. I could have saved them but I was scared and waited too long. My family died because of me.’

‘No they didn’t,’ cried Phoenix, ‘You saved them. You died in the fire but they got out. You were so brave, there’s a memorial to you in the church. Charles, you’ve been stuck here because you died thinking you killed them but they survived.’

We stared at each other. Then I felt a hand holding mine. I turned to see my sister and beside her, my parents. They were smiling.

‘Phoenix’ I said, ‘My family are here. I have to go now ... I have to go wherever ghosts go when they stop being ghosts.’